Part I: Weathering the Seasons

In 1937 Squires Hall was built on this site. 

It was named after John Houston Squires, a brilliant scientist who donated $10,000 towards its construction.

When completed the original building looked like this in the summer.

            

                  Getting into and out of the building was a workout in any season.

                                                   

 In 1966 the first renovation began .  

So....off with the stairs. 

 ...and off with the back wall: 

             Welcome late 20th Century Modernism.

 Squires, c.1970

                                                   

                                                                           

     
                                 

                         Welcome students.                                       

And Datsun 240 Z's

...and Christine

 (she's got to be in there, don't you think?).

In 1970 Thomas Butterfield,  a recent Virginia Tech graduate in education and architecture, was hired to oversee arts programming at Squires.  He opened an art workshop where students could create crafts and sell them in an area near what is now the Breakzone.  Perspective Gallery was also integrated into this new renovated Squires on the second floor.  In order to get to the back of  Squires, though, you had to pass through the gallery, helping to guide students to art they didn't know was there.

It was 1970 and Perspective Gallery was the beginning of the Arts at Virginia Tech.

Do you have a photo of the gallery during this time?  We are looking for images to add to our archives.  Please contact us